Mixed sandscape

Just started this 72 bow this month since I found a part of my old house that can support the weight of a tank. So after lurking and researching as much as possible for such a large tank I'll post the first photos of my labor.

Sump: Full of live rock, sand, algae mats and mangrove plants ... going for a fully working natural refugium. Plus telling people I grow trees in my saltwater aquarium is fun!

Just put in the final 80 pounds of sand & rock, so the water is very hazy. I'm hoping the artificial sponge gets most of it by tomorrow. The black & white sand is some Tahitian Black sand mixed with some very fine and mid-grain sand. Tried to keep them seperated but didn't think how hard putting in sand would be in such a large tank ... not totally unhappy with the results..
Ordered some LED lighting and waiting for that to arrive ... jerryrigging for now...

The branch against the glass is the piece of rock shapped like a torch 2' long with two Y branches on the end ... saw that at our LFS and drooled..
Things you cant see yet ... big pieces of rock with lots of squishy stuff on them and interesting colors .. cant wait for the water to clear...

 

congrats on the new tank! cant wait to see what it looks like once all cleared up

 

cant wait to see it when its cleared up. can mangroves go through a cycle?

 

Not sure, and I only got a bundle of 5 .. I might order more, probably 10-15 to have a small forest which is most likely its natural setting.
Maybe I should have waited. Well, I'll find out.

 

What kind of LED's did you order?

 

Jumping on the bandwagon for Maxspect G2s, 160W
Mostly because the electric bill is getting scary.